P is for Perfect, P is for Paris

“The city of Love” is a common nickname for the capital city of France. Last weekend I had the privilege of returning to Paris for the eighth time in my life, and it got me thinking; why not write about the third most visited city on earth (Forbes). Having visited quite a few times, I figured I could write two articles serving as guidebooks to seeing the “real Paris” for those fortunate enough to visit more than once, as well as the tourist version for those of you who have never gone and may not have more than one opportunity to go. This week will be about visiting the “tourist” side of my favorite city. With that being said, if it is your first (and likely your last) time you are going to Paris, here are four things you absolutely need to do. Obviously, the Eiffel Tower is a necessary, but before visiting the first free-standing structure surpassing 300 meters, there are other places you must see.

To begin the list, The Louvre Museum, in the first arrondissement is an absolute necessity. It is the largest museum in the world, ranks 27th on the list of most visited attractions in the world, (Huffington Post) and boasts some of the most renowned pieces of art ever created, most famously, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The Louvre is so large that you can’t tour the whole thing in one day, so here are the most important things to see when visiting. The Louvre Museum is actually a Palace, where Napoleon lived, and inside you can tour his private residence where he held parties, foreign diplomats, etc. Other must-see pieces include the “Winged Victory of Samothrace”, Michelangelo’s “Dying Slave”, “Venus de Milo”, and one of my personal favorite paintings “Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People”. These exhibits are ones you can’t miss.

Next on the list is the Arc de Triumph, located at the west end of the Champs-Élysées. This historic monument honors those who fought in the French Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, and beneath serves as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers from World War I. it also has the world’s largest roundabout in the world circling it. This massive and beautifully designed structure is a need to see on your trip, and for those of you interested, for 10,000 USD you can enjoy a five-course gastronomic brunch at the top of it with your party (yes you will be served fancy champagne).

Thirdly on the list, is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. This medieval Catholic Cathedral which lies on the river Seine is one of the most stunning pieces of Architecture in Western Europe. Inside of it are famous Cloister stained glass windows that are unable to be replicated today because the method has been retired, and there are no others like the ones found here. Interestingly enough, Notre Dame ranks 13th on the list of most visited attractions in the world, (Huffington Post) beating out a well-known tower that I have yet to talk about.

Last, but certainly never least, the Eiffel Tower, ranked 38th on the list of most visited attractions in the world (Huffington Post), however, it is most visited paid monument in the world. Built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, for the Paris Convention, the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be taken down after 20 years after construction. At the time of construction, the Eiffel Tower was the world’s largest structure and remains an iconic monument of France. When visiting, I recommend going early evening, when it is all lit up, and if you’re lucky, it will be sparkling. You must pay to go all the way up, but it is worth it. I’m not going to go into too much detail because I don’t want to ruin the experience for those of you who have yet to visit.

All in all, these are the four most important places, in my opinion, to visit if you only have a short time in Paris, and want to get the best possible experience in the limited time you have. In next week’s article, I will dive into visiting the non-tourist version of Paris.

College As Told By Junie B. Jones

The Junie B. Jones series was a big part of my childhood. They were the first chapter books I ever read. On car trips, my mother would entertain my sister and me by purchasing a new Junie B. Jones book and reading it to us. My favorite part about the books then, and still, are how funny they are. Junie B. takes things very literally, and her (mis)adventures are hilarious. A lot of children's authors tend to write for children and parents in their books to keep the attention of both parties. Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B. Jones series, did just that. This is why many things Junie B. said in Kindergarten could be applied to her experiences in college, as shown here.

When Junie B. introduces herself hundreds of times during orientation week:

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all." (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 1)

When she goes to her first college career fair:

"Yeah, only guess what? I never even heard of that dumb word careers before. And so I won't know what the heck we're talking about." (Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth, p. 2)

When she thinks people in class are gossiping about her:

“They whispered to each other for a real long time. Also, they kept looking at me. And they wouldn't even stop." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

When someone asks her about the library:

“It's where the books are. And guess what? Books are my very favorite things in the whole world!" (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 27)

When she doesn't know what she's eating at the caf:

“I peeked inside the bread. I stared and stared for a real long time. 'Cause I didn't actually recognize the meat, that's why. Finally, I ate it anyway. It was tasty...whatever it was." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

9 Things To Do In Nashville If You Have No Idea What To Do

Nashville is a great place packed full of lots of really cool smaller great places that all offer their own unique take on the city. If you're like me, though, and have a hard time ~planning ahead~, then this list is exactly what you need. I went around and got lost and tried all the coolest hidden gems in Nashville so you don't have to. Here are some of my faves.

1. Milk & Honey Nashville

Located in the Gulch, Milk & Honey is the coffee shop/cafe from my dreams. It's decorated perfectly for any cute insta story and y'all when I say their coffee is amazing I mean it. Try it. It's so worth it, and pretty easy to find, too! You can browse their menus here.

2. Frothy Monkey Coffee Shop

While we're on the topic of coffee shops, Frothy Monkey is a MUST try. Trust me, I've drunk A LOT of coffee in my lifetime, and theirs is up in the top 10 of the best. They have other good things too, but if you're a coffee person like me, this place is heaven, I promise. It's right off 12th Avenue and within walking distance of lots of other funky little shops.

3. Two Old Hippies

This is the coolest little shop you will ever go into. Tucked away in the Gulch, it's within walking distance of Milk & Honey, so stop by after you grab a coffee and browse. They have everything from handmade clothes to cool books to refrigerator magnets. This is one of my all time favorites and I know you'll love it too.

4. Baked on 8th

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I fell in love the second I saw the cute sign. Baked on 8th has a great atmosphere and even better little pastries, cookies, and cakes. Their cookies were so good it took every ounce of self-control I had to not go back and order 2 dozen. 12/10 would recommend if you're into Instagrammable locations and bomb sugar-filled desserts.

5. Burger Republic

I get it, you've gotta eat more than just cookies and coffee. As far as restaurants go, this place is home to the best burger I've ever eaten, plus the atmosphere is pretty laid back and great, and it's an awesome place to go and watch pretty much any sporting event happening anywhere relatively close to Nashville. Browse the menu so you can know exactly what to order before you even get there here.

6. Fido

In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm a HUGE fan of coffee shops and cafes. Fido was the most perfect little spot. It boasts about its gourmet coffee and great food, and rightfully so. It's also got the coolest funky vibe that makes you just want to sit and stay all day, and it's in a great location and decently close to Vanderbilt.

7. Go see some murals

Nashville is FULL of these bad boys. I know y'all have all seen the countless pictures of those people with big butterfly wings. Well, there's more and they're all around the city and on the side of pretty much every building. It's cliche, but tbh it's also kind of a must do while you're there.

8. Walk around Centennial Park and the Parthenon

This is a really nice place to visit if you're looking to spend a couple of hours away from the concrete of the city, and the Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the one in Greece.

9. Ride one of those little scooters around and explore

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I'm not gonna lie to y'all. I did not ride the scooters. They seem kind of dangerous and I know without a doubt that if I tried to get on one it would not end well for me, the scooter, or anyone within a 3-mile radius. With that being said, though, I did see a lot of people riding them and it looked pretty fun, plus it's a great way to see the city without walking too much. So if you just want to explore, hop on one of these bad boys and pray.

Nashville is a great city full of tons of tourist attractions and amazing musical history, but if you find yourself stuck with nothing to do for a couple of hours before your next walking tour, you're sure to find something on this list that you'll love. So, you're welcome.